JoAnn Mithchell
Interview Posted By: Ashley Smith
1. Can you tell us a little about your background? i.e. Where you grew up, what education do you have, a summary of your resume, did you always want to do what you are doing now, when did you start to become interested in STEM, what internships/ volunteering
I have a BSc, MBA and a PMP and I grew up in a STEM oriented home! All of my siblings and me work in STEM industries
2. What exactly IS your job? What do you do on a day to day basis?
I am a project leader and my job is broad and diverse. This week I am at a conference speaking on business and education cooperation for STEM industries
3. How does STEM relate to your job?How do you use the information you learned from your degree in your job?
Everything touches science engineering or math whether the consumer realizes it or not. Our ability to have the products we depend on depend on STEM activities
4. Have you faced any discrimination/ challenges being a woman in a stem field? If so, how did you deal with it? Do you have any advice for up and coming women in STEM?
Anyone coming into a new field experiences challenges and may need to be the visible example of a paradigm shift.
Always bring your best self to your professional commitments: your team depends on each of you no matter what you look like. You and each of your team members bring valuable skills to the team.
5. What is the best and worst part of your job? What do you look forward to in your job on a day to day basis? What do you wish you could change?
I think I have the best job. I work with really smart people to help our customers and stakeholders build solutions to their machining processes and I also work with educators and industry associations to bring knowledge to people who are looking to enter these high technology businesses.
6. How do you balance your work and personal life? Any secrets or advice you’d like to share?
You can have it all but maybe not all at the same time. Prioritize so that the most important things in your life are always 'first' and learn how to distinguish between important and urgent
7. What do you define success as?
Success is how many people I can help today
8. What is one personality trait that you think is universally important for a successful career?
Commitment
9. Who was a mentor to you throughout your career? (can be more than one!) What did they teach you? How did they impact your life?
I have had so many mentors, it would take a book to list them all and thank them for their kindnesses. My parents were my first mentors and my three siblings the second ones
I have benefitted from the knowledge and experience of many people and it has taught me to be generous with whatever help I can offer
10. What do you think is the best advice you've ever received ? What advice would you give your younger self if you had the chance? What’s one piece of advice you can pass on to us?
The best advice I ever got is always do what is right .
For my younger self - study harder!
One piece of advice to pass on - always do what is right. It may be hard, it may not be popular, it may not be expedient but it will still be right.
I have a BSc, MBA and a PMP and I grew up in a STEM oriented home! All of my siblings and me work in STEM industries
2. What exactly IS your job? What do you do on a day to day basis?
I am a project leader and my job is broad and diverse. This week I am at a conference speaking on business and education cooperation for STEM industries
3. How does STEM relate to your job?How do you use the information you learned from your degree in your job?
Everything touches science engineering or math whether the consumer realizes it or not. Our ability to have the products we depend on depend on STEM activities
4. Have you faced any discrimination/ challenges being a woman in a stem field? If so, how did you deal with it? Do you have any advice for up and coming women in STEM?
Anyone coming into a new field experiences challenges and may need to be the visible example of a paradigm shift.
Always bring your best self to your professional commitments: your team depends on each of you no matter what you look like. You and each of your team members bring valuable skills to the team.
5. What is the best and worst part of your job? What do you look forward to in your job on a day to day basis? What do you wish you could change?
I think I have the best job. I work with really smart people to help our customers and stakeholders build solutions to their machining processes and I also work with educators and industry associations to bring knowledge to people who are looking to enter these high technology businesses.
6. How do you balance your work and personal life? Any secrets or advice you’d like to share?
You can have it all but maybe not all at the same time. Prioritize so that the most important things in your life are always 'first' and learn how to distinguish between important and urgent
7. What do you define success as?
Success is how many people I can help today
8. What is one personality trait that you think is universally important for a successful career?
Commitment
9. Who was a mentor to you throughout your career? (can be more than one!) What did they teach you? How did they impact your life?
I have had so many mentors, it would take a book to list them all and thank them for their kindnesses. My parents were my first mentors and my three siblings the second ones
I have benefitted from the knowledge and experience of many people and it has taught me to be generous with whatever help I can offer
10. What do you think is the best advice you've ever received ? What advice would you give your younger self if you had the chance? What’s one piece of advice you can pass on to us?
The best advice I ever got is always do what is right .
For my younger self - study harder!
One piece of advice to pass on - always do what is right. It may be hard, it may not be popular, it may not be expedient but it will still be right.
